1College of Life Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252059, People's Republic of China
2Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, 136100, People's Republic of China
Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, 136100, People's Republic of China
*Corresponding author's e-mail: khk1962@126.com
Online published on 10 February, 2017.
The oocyte-specific transcription factor newborn ovary homeobox (NOBOX) plays essential roles in regulating various stages of oogenesis, folliculogenesis and early embryonic development. The nucleotide sequence of 3′-untranslated region (3'UTR) of the ovine NOBOX gene (Accession No. KM090856) is detailed in the present report. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the ovine NOBOX transcript was mainly expressed in ovary. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in 3'UTR of NOBOX gene and two restriction site for endonuclease NOBOX-AfaI and NOBOX-BalI had also been found. Moreover, for the first time an association was reported between NOBOX gene polymorphism and prolificacy traits in Small Tailed Han sheep. Marker-trait association analyses showed that the NOBOX-AfaI and NOBOX-BalI genotypes had significant effect on the litter size traits in small tailed han ewes (p<0.05). In conclusion, these preliminary results indicated that NOBOX-AfaI and NOBOX-BalI loci in NOBOX gene maybe a potential marker for improving prolificacy traits in sheep.
NOBOX gene, Polymorphism, Prolificacy traits, Small Tailed Han sheep
